Mumbai FC’s fans are the best in the country: Chika Wali

by Kaushal Shukla March 22, 2015

With just three goals leaked in the last six games and Mumbai FC having racked up twelve points from these games to propel themselves to the sixth place in the Hero I-League, things are on the up for the Mumbai outfit.

After the horrific first three games, there has been a renaissance with the rearguard leading from the front. It was a clean sheet against Sporting Club de Goa setting Mumbai FC on their way to three wins on the spin and a hard fought draw against the Champions followed by a spirited draw with Pune FC with ten men.

At the very heart of this defense Mumbai FC’s new signing Chika Wali has proved to be a rock thwarting opposition attacks and posing a real threat to the opponent’s goal from set pieces.

Having played every minute of Mumbai FC’s season so far, Chika Wali has settled well into the life at the sole club in the city of dreams. Chika has acknowledged his team mates for the help and support during his initial days at the club.

“I am happy with the start of my career at Mumbai FC. I enjoy the life and the city. My team mates have helped a lot to settle here and now I am really enjoying playing with them”.

Chika felt his side endured a tough start to the season but they put in plenty of efforts to get it right. “It was tough early on but then we worked on our errors. We saw footages and learn where we were going wrong. Apart from that we always believed that we had the quality and kept on working hard and now things are getting better for us”.

Chika Wali and Justine Stephen have forged a great partnership at the heart of the Mumbai FC defence and have started all eight games for the Mumbai outfit. Chika has great things to say about his center back partner with whom he shared a good rapport even before his Mumbai days.

“Justine is a very good player. I have known him since we were at Prayag United and we share a good rapport with each other. That has helped us a lot over here and we are looking to put in better performances together”.

Pune FC was the place where it all began for Chika Wali and went on to spend four years at the Balewadi Stadium. Chika is grateful to the Pune Club for helping him grow as a player

“In football you often change clubs, and there is always a chance to come up against your former team. But I am a professional and Mumbai FC is my family now and I did whatever possible to help them get a draw. I have great respect for Pune FC with whom I started my career in India and I had a good time there, but now I am with Mumbai and that is all what I am thinking about”.

The crowds have been pouring in at Cooperage this season and that has had a great positive impact on Mumbai FC’s performances. Chika Wali has hailed the supporters and called them the best in the country.

“The fans have been amazing. They have come out in large numbers for every game we have played. You have fans of big clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal who have been there for a while, but I can comfortably say that we have the best fans in the country”.

Chika Wali was so much thrilled with the support of the fans that he has called for new stands to be constructed and has urged the supporters to fill in every seat.

“I would like every seat to be filled. I would also love if there are more stands, so that more people could come and watch us play”.

Chika Wali is well and truly a Mumbaikar now and has struck a chord with the Cooperage faithful. The powerful Nigerian stopper who also sports a nice smile is here to stay for a while, which is not good news for those hoping to breach fortress Cooperage.